Paramount Pictures

On March 31, 2017, Lakeshore Records had planned to release the score to the live action Ghost in the Shell film. The release was unfortunately cancelled for reasons unknown, and ever since that time fans have been signing a petition for its release on Change.org. At the time of writing the petition has garnered over 4000 signatures, whatever you think about petitions of these nature there is evidence that they do work. When the first Transformers film was released in 2007 there were no plans to release a score album, however this changed when a fan run online petition obtained over 5000 signatures. The score was composed by Clint Mansell and Lorne Balfe and details of the original planned release are available on the Video Game Music Database which reveals the extent of talented individuals that worked on the music.

In the video clip above you can listen to the lengthy piece titled “Tank Battle” which is featured in one of the film’s final action scenes. Composer Lorne Balfe has been consistently releasing two tracks every Friday as a means to help generate excitement over the score. He’s also released an unused alternate score for the film’s opening ‘Shelling Sequence’ which offers film score fans a look behind the scenes of crafting the music for the film.

A twitter account @gitsost has also been actively promoting the film’s score and been encouraging Paramount Pictures and Lakeshore Records to release the score. The film’s Director, Rupert Sanders was also recently interviewed by Neil Middlemiss for Home Theatre Forum and was asked about the score release:

Neil Middlemiss:You worked with Clint Mansell and Lorne Balfe on Ghost in the Shell. And the music in your films works so incredibly well. What is your working process like with the composers that you work with? And what on God’s Earth do we have to do in order to get a score release for Ghost in the Shell’s wonderful soundtrack done? Who do I need to call [laughter]?

Rupert Sanders:Well, we will endeavor to do something. I think it’s a valid point and I think a digital release is a fairly inexpensive way to do it. But I work with the musicians as closely as I work with so many of the other collaborators. And as a director, your role when working on that side of the film is to inspire and excite those people around you so they give their best work. You’re not in there telling them what key the opening should be in, but you’re trying to give them as much of your vision of the film sonically as possible, and guide them as much as possible so they understand what you’re trying to do. And that’s really the hardest thing, especially with music, because you can’t draw it. And it’s very hard when you’re not musical, like myself, to talk in phrases and musical expressions because I don’t really know many of them but I can draw the shit out of a prop house. But music is harder [and] I think it’s about getting people who are collaborative, who want to help you on the journey do something different, and I’m really proud of the originality of the score. And I will follow up, and I will make sure that there’s a release. And as soon as it’s released, we’ll email you a link [laughter].

Until the score is officially released I will continue to check out Lorne Balfe’s YouTube page every Friday for the latest tracks he’s shared. OSV will keep you updated if an official score released in announced.

Were you a fan of the music in the 2017 Ghost in the Shell film?

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